Sydney Sevens: USA make big statement
The USA stamped their authority in Pool D and sent out an ominous warning to the rest of the teams with a convincing 42-0 win against Wales. England beat Japan 26-5 in the Pool D game.
Fiji started the day's action by hammering Pacific neighbours Samoa 31-0 before Argentina edged France 17-7 in Pool C's other game.
World Series leaders South Africa were too strong for Scotland in Pool B with a 33-7 win, while Kenya were made to work hard for their 24-10 win over the Russians.
In Pool A, Australia and New Zealand were made to work hard for their wins against Canada and Portugal.
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Pool A
(Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Portugal)
New Zealand were given a good test by Canada in their opening game, however a dominant second half display gave the Kiwis a 27-12 win in the end.
Adam Zaruba gave the Canadians an early lead before Joe Webber levelled matters with a try. Both teams then got a converted try each before the break with the score at 12-12.
The Kiwis turned on the gas in the second half and it was the Ioane brothers who were the stars of the show. Rieko and Akiro Ioane both got a try each to help New Zealand to a comfortable victory in the end.
Australia took some time to get going in their game against Portugal with Cameron Clarke eventually opening the scoring with a dive in the corner. With a minute to go in the first half the ball went wide to Clarke again who shimmied his way over for another try. At half-time Australia led 14-0.
Portugal were the first to score in the second half through Aderito Esteves, However Australia pushed on in the closing stages of the second half with another two tries to win 24-7.
Results:
New Zealand 27-12 Canada
Australia 24-7 Portugal
Pool B
(South Africa, Kenya, Russia, Scotland)
The South Africans got their Sydney Sevens campaign off to a perfect start when they thrashed Scotland 33-7. Tries from Seabelo Senatla, Rosko Specman and Cheslin Kolbe gave the BlitzBoks a 19-0 lead at the break.
The Scots were the first to score in the second half through Lowe, however a second try by Senatla and a try by Sandile Ngcobo gave the South Africans a comfortable win in the end.
Russia put up a good fight in their game against Kenya – however the Africans had too much firepower for them in the end. The score was 5-5 after the first five minutes before Oscar Ayodi ensured his team had the lead at the break with a good try.
The Kenyans scored a further two tries through Willy Ambaka and Oscar Ouma, to the one from Russia to win 24-10 in the end.
Results:
South Africa 33-7 Scotland
Kenya 24-10 Russia
Pool C
(Fiji, Argentina, France, Samoa)
It was all one way traffic in the day's opening game with the Fijians scoring five unanswered tries to beat Samoa 31-0. Savenaca Rawaca got the game's opening try in the third minute of the game before Jerry Tuwai got a brace before the half-time break to give Fiji a 19-0 lead.
Samoa shoed a bit more resistance in the second half, but could not stop Fiji scoring another two tries through Apisai Raviyawa Domolailai and Osea Kolinisau.
Argentina were made to work hard for their win in the other group game against France. Rodrigo Etchart opened the scoring for the South Americans in the third minute to give them a 5-0 lead. There was no further scoring until the stroke of half-time when France’s Arthur Retiere scored and converted his own try to give his team a 7-5 lead at the break.
However, the Argentinian were just too good in the second half, scoring another two tries without reply to win 17-7.
Results:
Fiji 31-0 Samoa
Argentina 17-7 France
Pool D
(England, Japan, USA, Wales)
England put in a dominant first-half display to beat Japan 26-5 in Pool D's opening game. Ruaridh McConnochie opened the scoring before Dan Bibby and James Rodwell ensured England went into the break leading 19-0 after two great tries.
The second half was much more competitive than the first with both teams scoring a try each with England eventually winning with a 21-point margin.
The USA sent out a big warning to the rest of the competition with a 42-0 victory over Wales. Speeders Carlin Isles and Perry Bake were the stars of the show with both getting on the score sheet. Folau Niua got the game's first try and then Isles showed a clean pair of heals with a great score to give the USA a 14-0 lead at the break.
The floodgates opened in the second half with the USA scoring another four tries, two of which were scored by Perry Baker. Wales were unable to find a way through the USA defence.
Results:
England 26-5 Japan
USA 42-0 Wales
